AGCH Awards $21,500 In 2007 CHW Community Grants
Four local non profit organizations are the recipients of $21,500 in 2007 Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) Community Grants from the Arroyo Grande Community Hospital (AGCH). The grants were handed out at a special luncheon at AGCH on Thursday, January 17, 2008. CHW and its member hospitals jointly administer these grants annually.
The recipients of the 2007 CHW grants from AGCH are the Exploration Station in Grover Beach ; $8500 towards its "BodyQuest" project, the Food Bank Coalition in Oceano; $5000 to help with its family food distribution to low income families in Southern San Luis Obispo County, Hospice of San Luis Obispo County; $5000 to further its Vigil Volunteers program, an added support to hospital staff for patients at AGCH who are imminently dying and unable to leave the hospital, and the South County Youth Coalition in Oceano; $3000 for its scholarship fund for youth in the community so they can participate in healthy activities and to help families with the costs of prescription medications, eyeglasses and unmet dental needs.
"This is a great opportunity to demonstrate the commitment our hospitals and Catholic Healthcare West are making to improve the health and welfare of our community," said Rick Castro, AGCH President. "I'm pleased to award these monies to such worthwhile, community-oriented organizations."
The CHW Community Grants Program is designed to help communities provide support for underserved populations. The program, which is funded by contributions from its member hospitals, is a way CHW supports and enhances the advocacy, social justice and healthier communities' efforts of its hospitals. The program partners with other nonprofit organizations that share the CHW values and also work to improve the health and quality of life of their community members.
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"We're thrilled that Arroyo Grande Community Hospital is giving the Exploration Station financial support to help make our "BodyQuest" project a reality", says Peggy Hoobery, Board President of the Exploration Station. "The CHW grant program really shows how the hospital is supporting the community it serves," she added. The Exploration Station is also now collaborating with the hospital to help educate the public about the latest in Medicare Plan programs using their computers and holding free seminars about decisions about end-of-life care.
CHW's community grants program is funded through donations from its member hospitals, which contribute .05 percent of their previous year's audited expenses to the program. Grant awards typically range from $2,000 to $50,000. Since 1990, CHW has awarded nearly $30 million in grants to local non profit organizations.
To be selected for a CHW grant, the organization or program must meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Address the greatest health needs of the community;
- Emphasize prevention to addresses the underlying cause of health problems;
- Contribute to a seamless continuum of care;
- Build upon and mobilize existing services in the community;
- Engage diverse community stakeholders in implementation and oversight.
To find out more about the CHW Community Grants program and the 2007 recipients, please contact AGCH Media Relations and Communications Manager, Anna Scott at (805) 473-7695 or by email at Anna.Scott@CHW.edu.
